Author: Robert Kirkman
I finally got my hands on this and just finished reading this gem.
Summary: Again, I won't really summarize this one because it is well over 1,000 pages long and any attempt to summarize that much material would be futile. I will say this though, if you are a fan of the show, the timeline where the show is as of the start of this season, is where this compendium starts. So we are done with the prison! (Or The Farm Pt. 2, Return of the Farm, or The Farm Strikes Back as I like to call it.)
Just some general information about this book is that it introduces a ton of new characters. So if you read ahead with this, you will very much find yourself in uncharted territory in comparison to the show (which I feel is a good thing).
La Torrious' Views: I think this book is another great example of Robert Kirkman's ability to write great plot lines. At several points in this book, you will most likely find yourself stepping back and an awe of sorts wondering how situations will play out. The characters' ability to overcome adversity of what comes their way is astonishing.
This book also is another example of how Robert Kirkman typically writes characters (his main ones at least, i.e. Rick, Andrea, and Michonne) that are not apt to making stupid mistakes. Typically in the books when the group finds themselves in a bad situation, it is because they are dealt a bad hand. Conversely, the show has a habit of having the characters make stupid decisions (Again see: Walker in the well on the farm or Let's stay on the highway for a year and search for Sophia). So when you are reading the books, you generally think: "Wow, that sucks so much!" as opposed to on the show you wonder: "How did they not see this coming???"
Also in the books overall, I find it much easier to like most of the characters. As opposed to the show, most people I speak to couldn't stand Lori and despise Carl. I will say, I am not trying to throw hate on the show. However, they will always in my mind be compared to one another. That is the unfortunate fact that comes with adapting a beloved piece of literature for the silver screen (or big screen in most cases).
One piece of criticism I have to offer regarding the books has to do with character dialogue. In both of the compendiums, for some reason, most of the characters have this tendency to literally say how they are feeling, or why they reacted a certain way. To which the character they are talking to will say something like "I understand Rick (or whomever it is), you are under a lot of pressure because of (insert situation), it's perfectly understandable for you to react in said way". For me, I find this literal description of character's feelings takes away from the overall experience of the book. I would much rather read into a character's thought process and try to figure out why they did said thing. Also, I don't know about you all, but in most social instances where I speak with someone, they don't typically lay out exactly how they were feeling, which in turn lead to the decision they made. It's not a big deal, it's just something that gets somewhat tiresome after a while.
La Torrious' Rating: 8.5 out of 10 Batman Cowls.
No comments:
Post a Comment